Maldon district: Benefit fraud continues to rise (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Maldon district: Benefit fraud continues to rise

7:00pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

Benefit fraud is spiralling out of control as the district’s residents struggle to make ends meet.

The amount of money fraudulantly claimed in the Maldon district has risen dramatically in recent years, jumping from £104,717.71 wrongfully claimed in housing and council tax benefit in 2009/10 to £200,925.39 in 2010/11 and £264,118.65 in 2011/2012.

The statistics supplied by Maldon District Council show that the figure for 2012/13 already stands at £226,792.90, with seven months of the financial year still to go.

Maldon District Council insists it is there to help struggling residents, but says it will not stand for fraud.

David Sismey, chairman of the council’s finance committee, said: “We will take action against anyone defrauding the public purse and claiming money to which they are not entitled.

“We encourage anyone who is entitled to claim benefit to do so, but we will not tolerate those who abuse the system.

“If residents are struggling to make ends meet, we would urge them to speak to us, so we can see how we can help.”